TOWN OF MOUNT GILEAD BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS  ZOOM MEETING  MG Mount Gilead Est.1899 . North Carolina  MINUTES  110 West Allenton Street, Mount Gilead, North Carolina, 27306  April 7, 2020  The Mount Gilead Board of Commissioners met remotely via Zoom at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 7, 2020 for the regular monthly business meeting. Information on how to attend the meeting was posted on Present for the Zoom meeting were Mayor Chip Miller, Mayor Pro Tem Tim McAuley, Commissioners Paula Covington, Vera Richardson and Mary Lucas, Town Manager, Matthew Christian, Town Clerk  the town webpage www.mtgleadnc.com. and on the' Town's bulletin board. Amy Roberts, Police ChiefPat Preslar and Public Works Director Daniel Medley.  ITEMI. ITEM II.  CALLTO ORDER  Mayor Chip Miller called thei meeting to order at 7:10 p.m.  APPROVAL OF AGENDA  Commissioner Paula Covington made ai motion to approve the April 7, 2020 agenda. Mayor Pro Tem Tim McAuley seconded the motion. Agenda was unanimously  approved. INTRODUCTION  ITEM III.  Matt Christian, Town Manager, welcomed everyone to the Zoom meeting and explained  toe everyone how the electronic meeting would work.  ITEM: IV. DISCUSSIONTOPICS  A. Covid-1/coronavirus Response  Mayor Miller welcomed everyone to the Zoom meeting. He stated that he had written ap public response to the citizens during this COVID-19 outbreak. Inl his response he gave a general statement to the public letting them know that the Town is here for them during this time and asking for their support, compliance and patience. Town Manager, Matt Christian explained that hel had ai recent conference call with other Town Managers ini the county and Montgomery County leaders concerning the timeline oft the revaluation of property taxes for the citizens of Montgomery County. He explained that right now is the time the County would normally mail out notices about tax revaluations to the citizens. From that point, the citizens are allowed 30 days to question or appeal the revaluation. The County was concerned about creating aj panic and added stress during this pandemic ifthey sent out these notices right now. Therefore, they decided to delay the distribution oft these notices. Because ofthis, the Town of Mount Gilead will not be able to estimate revenues for our FY 20-21 budget. Matt explained that we: may need to consider passing an Interim Budget for up to 90 days of the new fiscal year until the County can finish the property: revaluation. In  B. FY20-21 Budget    summary, this means no new projects can begin or no new capital purchases during this interim time period and until the 20-21 full budget is adopted. We will still have to conduct aj public hearing toj pass some form of budget. Commissioner Lucas asked Matt ifhe was keeping up with any changes to the Sales Tax Revenues through thel NC League of Municipalities. Matt said he had been keeping an eye on any and all information coming down from the League concerning Mayor Miller asked Matt ifhe would briefly update the Board on major needs for the upcoming budget year since the Board Retreat got cancelled. Matt said that he asked the department heads to summarize their wants/needs for the new budget. Matt will  any changes that could be coming.  send al Budget Summary to the Board by email.  C. Project Updates  According to Town Manager, Matt Christian, the WWTP Rehab Project is on schedule and the contractors are on track and continuing with construction. There is some uncertainty with how the Comprehensive Plan will continue ini the near future because ofCOVID-19. The May 7 workshop has been postponed. Matt is working closely with Mosaic to come up with new ideas, such as surveys by mail in case we can'thave public workshops. The completion oft the Comp Plan is scheduled There has been a draft plan completed by Mosaic for the. Albert Johnson Pocket Park. Mayor Pro Tem McAuley asked Matt ift the town plans on doing anything to help Mr. James Lilly, owner ofal home on Hwy. 109 South, who has a culvert to the right of his home, bordering his property. This culvert is managed by NCI DOT but the homeowner) has asked the Town ifPublic Works could help him get something done. During major storms and heavy downpours this culvert overflows and causes invasive flooding into his yard causing damage each time it happens. Commissioner McAuley stated that he felt like the Town should do something tol help him. McAuley said he remembers years ago that Public Works did some: maintenance to the culvert tol help with the flooding. Matt says he and Daniel have discussed possibly getting the inmates to remove some oft the rocks. McAuley asked Daniel ifhe would speak to James McCormick (former Public Works employee) and ask him what type of Mayor Miller asked Daniel about the status of paving the parking lots at Stanback Park. Daniel stated that wel have received a bid from CK Earnhardt and Riley Paving. JT Russell and Sons declined tol bid on the project. According tol Daniel, both bids exceeded the budgeted amount. Commissioner Lucas expressed her concern about moving forward with this paving project and asked ift the Board thinks we should delay because of the fear ofhow the economy: may plummet during this crisis and that small towns may be "hit hard". Mayor Miller expressed his concern about delaying the project because he's afraid prices are going tol balloon because oft the crisis and he assured the Board that it has already been budgeted for and approved. Matt said he and Daniel would seek additional bids and summarize this information  for October 2020.  maintenance they used to do to the culvert.  for the board.    Commissioner Lucas asked for an update on the erosion issues behind the Mt. Gilead Antique Mall. Per Matt, there was a survey/model done oft the area. The drain under the road from the Police Department at Ingram Street leading under and across Main Street is failing because ofa age. Engineers are working on developing a solution.  ITEM III.  DEPARTMENTI UPDATES A. Town Manager  Town Hall is closed to the Public until further notice. Citizens have been instructed to make payments via US mail, dropbox, or online. The Town is waiving the service fees to customers associated with online payments until further notice. Administrative staffhave been isolating at home for the past two weeks to prevent possible COVID-19 exposure. Any work that can be done from home has continued. The Town Clerk has continued with payroll, state reporting and Accounts payable during this time. The clerk has checked the post office box and the drop box on Tuesdays and Fridays during this time and: made bank deposits. Admin staff will start back to work ini the office on' Wednesday, April 8, with clear instructions on social distancing and work schedules during this time. Matt will have a safety briefing first thing on Wednesday morning with the Admin team to assure there are clear  expectations for the near future. B. Police Department  Police Chief Preslar spokel briefly and explained that hel had put his monthly updates in the Board packet and asked ifthe Board had any questions for him. Commissioner McAuley asked ift the PDI has had any issues with people hanging out at the car wash during the Stay at Home order. Chief Preslar said they had not seen any major issues. The Chief explained that officers have been instructed tol keep an eye out for large groups gathering not only at the car wash but anywhere in' Town and to educate the group(s) and ask them to leave. Commissioner McAuley said hel had noticed people gathering at the Car Wash and said they might want tol keep a close eye on it. Commissioner Richardson asked Chief Preslar ifhel had any other complaints, other than her, about rapid gunfire in the area Sunday, April 5. Chief Preslar said the officer on duty said he also had heard this and thought it came from a different area. The officer investigated that area and did not find anything. Commissioner Richardson stressed her concern about officers not patrolling all areas of the town. Commissioner Lucas asked Chief Preslar ift the Town has regulations or a policy in reference to putting Wrecker Services on a call rotation. Chief] Preslar said the Police Department has always followed the County's rotation list. Ifsomeone requests tol be added to the rotation list they usually approach him or Montgomery County Dispatch tol be added. Recently, Randy's Wrecker Service asked to be dropped from the Rotation List. Chief Preslar reached out to a wrecker service out ofNorwood, and he agreed to service our area because oft the proximity to our town. Commissioner. Lucas expressed her concern over this decision stating that she felt like that we should be using services from our own county. She was under the impression that there wasa policy that stated that any wrecker service in rotation is required tol have an office and aholding space in our county. She asked Chief] Preslar to look into this.    C. Public Works  Daniel spoke briefly to the Board and explained that Public works has continued with work as usual. His monthly report was attached to the Board packets and asked ift they  had any questions for him. The Board had no questions.  ITEMIV. COMMISSIONER REPORTS  Commissioner Lucas stated that she felt like administrative staffs should not come back to work until Monday, April 13 rather than Wednesday, April 8. She also asked Matt ifhe was going to have any extra precautionary protective measures at the front window at Town Hall before: re-opening to the public. Matt said he was open to suggestions. Commissioner Lucas stated that she had some complaints about people playing pickle ball at the park while it is closed to the public. Mayor Miller says hel has been told that pickle ball has stopped in large groups. Commissioner Covington stated that the Executive Stay at Home order says that people can still be outside for recreational activities as long as they are still practicing social distancing and no groups larger than 10 Matt commented that the Montgomery County Board ofCommissioners madea proclamation declaring Wednesday, April 8 as a Day ofMemorial inl honor off fallen Deputy Bud Phaoung's 44th birthday. "Officer Bud" was the first Montgomery county  people.  resident lost to COVID-19. PUBLIC COMMENT  ITEM V.  NOTE: Public comments were requested to be. submitted in writing to the Town Clerk erk@mgleadnc.com, in the chat section oft the Zoom meeting, or by texting 910-439-  6687. No requests from the public came in.  ITEM VI. ADJOURNMENT  With no more. Board business, Commissioner Covington made ai motion to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Richardson seconded the motion. Meeting was adjourned.  ShycRohc Amy C.Roberts,  Joseph  Town Clerk  CA "Chip" Mler,Jr,Mayor